Karnataka can wait, Rahul is Cong focus

Notwithstanding the threat to its coalition government in Karnataka, the focus point for the AICC8217;s 82nd plenary is Rahul Gandhi and hi...

Notwithstanding the threat to its coalition government in Karnataka, the focus point for the AICC8217;s 82nd plenary is Rahul Gandhi and his induction into the party hierarchy.

From Telangana to coalition politics, from Quattrochi to Karnataka, the Congress certainly has its hands full, but party leaders and workers at the Rajiv Nagar stadium in Gachibowli village off Hyderabad are more interested in celebrating the party8217;s return to power at the Centre after its eight year hiatus.

Karnataka is not taking up much of party managers8217; time. Speaking to the media, party general secretaries Ambika Soni, Ashok Gehlot and Digvijay Singh played down the issue. 8216;8216;Two senior leaders8212;Margaret Alva and A K Antony8212;are in close touch with the state unit and we are hopeful of a solution,8221; Soni said. 8220;After all, it8217;s a problem in another party and H D Deve Gowda and Karnataka CM Dharam Singh have assured us that the government will survive. And we go by that.8221;

Antony and Alva are to reach Hyderabad tomorrow, while political secretary Ahmad Patel will reach the venue tonight. Senior leaders indicated that Karnataka would get attention only after the session ends on January 23.

The Dharam Singh government has until January 27 to prove its majority; the CM may give the AICC session a miss.

But, the mood at Rajiv Nagar is overwhelmingly for demanding8212;and more importantly to be seen demanding8212;Rahul Gandhi8217;s induction into the party hierarchy.

With Priyanka Gandhi skipping the meet, the focus will be entirely on the Amethi MP. From Youth Congress chief Ashok Tanwar to AICC general secretary Gehlot, everyone is calling for him to take charge of some organisational responsibility. Erected by the 8216;8216;Rahul-Priyanka Brigade8217;8217; and other frontal organisations of the party, hoardings welcoming Rahul Gandhi are as prominent as those for his mother en route to the venue.

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Soni was noncommittal on whether the extended working committee8212;that will precede the plenary session8212;will discuss the issue of Rahul8217;s entry. 8216;8216;That is the prerogative of the Congress chief and she can nominate whoever she wants to the five vacant seats of the working committee,8217;8217; Soni said.

Propagating the UPA8217;s achievements8212;especially the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme, a favourite topic with Sonia8212;may get little priority. Huge publicity has been organised for the initiative, but, Sonia8217;s insistence notwithstanding, promoting the UPA may not be a priority for her Congressmen.